Switch-operating mechanism



June 5, 1928.

A. F. C. LOTZ SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM Filed June 1, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 5, 1928.

A. F. C. LOTZ SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM Filed June 1, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 n w @F w I. a

June 5, 1928. 1,672,494 7 A. F. C. LOTZ SWITCH OPER ATING MECHANISM nEled J e 1, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 5,1928. 1,672,494

' A. F. C. LOTZ SWITCH OPERATI NG MECHANI SM Filed June 1, 1925 4 4 Sheets Sheet Patented June 5, 1928.

UNITE'IDS'T-ATES ALFRED no. Lorz, or aroles, ILLIN QIS, ASS iGiNO R fliOfELEGTRICAL ENsiiIEr-ns EQUIPMENT'COMPANK'OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Application filed'Junc 1, 1-925. 'Seria1'No.'33,886.

This invention relates to mechanism for operating switches, more particularly to mechanism -for closing an oil switch and for tripping the same open, although of course it may be used wherever found desirable.

Accordingto my invention I employ a rotary shaft which, in the preferredv form of the invention, is the operating shaft of the switch and I provide'inconjunction therewith means for automatically or manually tripping the switch open and for manually restoringthe switch to closed position. The

same motion which restores the switch to.

closed position. restores the automatic trip to normal position, and the same means which manually trips the switchmay reset it and restore the automatic and manual tripping means 'totheir normal positions.

Themechanisin employed according to my invention is of simple, rugged, and inexpensive construction. The operating mechanism is characterized by a minimum of inertia, so that the oil switch may open with great rapidity... The strain upon the parts is low and longlifeand satisfactory operation are thereby assm'ecl,iaiid furthermore the mechanism which I provide positively holds the switch closed and makes both the automatic and manual tripping operations positive in actionand with few parts.

Inymy co-pending application, Case '8, Serial No. 753,028, filed December 1, 192%, I have shown a suitableoil switch employing a rocking or rotary shaft which is adapted to be operated by the present mechanism, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the combination ofthat particular'switch with the present mechanism, but. that 'the present mechanism is new in combination with any type of switch which employs the rocking or rotary shaft.

Means preferably a spring, may tend to move or rock the switch operating shaft in one direction. and a relatively small angular motion of this shaft is sufiicient, as more fully, explained in my above referred to copending application. I

In'order to acqu'aint those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing andoperating my invention, I shallnow describe "an embodiment of the same in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In thedrawings:

Figurel 'isa front ele'v'ational view of a device embodying my invention with the cover removed, the positions of the parts before tripping being shown in solid lines and'after tripping manually, in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing in dotted lines the positions of the various operating parts after automatictripping;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view with the cover in vertical section;

Fig. 4 is a front elcvational view with the cover in place and showing the operating lever and its'mounting;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal end sectional View taken on line 5-5'of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 1 and brings out in greater detail the manner of assembling the clutch mechanism for the operating lever;

Fig. 7 is a plan view' of the trip mechanism looking at 'it from above with the cover in horizontal section;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the operating clutch; and

Fig. '9 is a similar View of the setting lever.

The square shaft 10 prolonged forms the shaft of the switch mechanism, such as disclosed in myco-pending application above referred to. Rocking of ths shaft in one direction serves to open the switch by separating the contacts of said switchto the desired extent and rocking or movement of the shaft in the reverse direction closes the switch.

The switch shaft, in the present case, is rocked through approximately 30, and by this smallrocking movement the switch may be completely opened or closed. The shaft 10 extends through a bush ng 11, which is journaled in a babbitt bearing 12 in the bear ing member 13. The bearing member 13 is preferably cast integral with the base plate 14.

The spring which operates the shaft 10 may be arranged in any suitable or preferred manner. In Fig. 3, for purposes of illustration, I have shown an arm '100secured'on shaft 10, a tension spring 101 being secured at one end to this arm and at its other end to a relatively fixed element, at 102, this spring urging the shaft in switch opening direction.

A shaft lever 15 is mounted on the shaft 10 substantially adjacent the bushing'll. It is provided with a slot which lies along its longitudinal axis through the opening pro vided for the shaft. A bolt 16 is adapted to pass through the transverse opening in the two separate clamping portions formed by the slot, and serves to clamp the lever securely to the shaft by threading into the nut 17 so as to draw the separate clamping portions tightly against the shaft, A lug 14, which is preferably cast integral with the base plate 14, serves to limit the counter clockwise movement of the shaft lever 15.

The lower end of theshaft lever 15 is pivotally secured at 15 to a toggle link 18. The toggle link 18 at its opposite end is pivotally secured at 18 to a setting toggle link 19. The setting toggle link 19 has an angularly offset portion 20 integral therewith, which terminates in a horizontal nose or lip 21. The lip 21 i-o-operates with a relatively rectangular notch in an angular toggle latch The toggle latch 22 is pivotally secured at 22' to the toggle link 18. The portion of the toggle, as just described, merges into a rectangular portion, which is disposed generally horizontally when the trip mechanism is set.

The opposite end of the setting toggle 19 is pivotally connected at 19 to the lower end of the setting lever 23. The upper portion of thesetting lever 23 is provided with a clutch member 24, as shown in Fig. 9. This clutchmember is integral with the lever 23 and has an integral protruding member 25,

which is disposed centrally between the jaws 26 and adjacent one of the faces of the lever.

" The radius of the protruding member 25 is greater than that through the circumference of the jaws 26, and its thickness or width is less than that of the jaws 26, as shown. The cam portion 27 of the clutch member 28 operates in this space between the jaws 26v and i the inner face of the protruding member 25.

The cam portion 27 has an angular movement of approximately degrees 1n the space between the jaws 26. Both the lever 23 and the clutch 28 are mounted on the shaft 29. The lever 23, however, is adapted for rotative movement on the shaft, while the clutch 28, the cam portion of which lies in a space between the jaws 26, is secured to the shaft by means of a suitable pin 30.

:The shaft 29 is journaled in a support or bracket member 31 which is preferably made integral with the base plate 14. In Fig. 6, the shaft 29 is shown as being-journaled in a babbitt bearing 32 at one end and in the support member 31 at the opposite end. However, I do not wish to limit myself to this particular way of mounting the shaft, for it is obvious that any other method may be used, such as the provision of separate bushings or bolts for either end of the shaft.

, A. latch 33 is pivotally mounted on a wall 34 by means of the screw 35. The latch 33 is provided with an offset portion 33'. which is adapted to ride on the surface. of the cam the pins 42 which thread into sea three separate support members 38' to which the magnets 39 are secured as by the screws 40. It is to be understood "that the number of support members may vary, depending on the kind of circuits in which themechanism is to be used. Each of the magnets 39-is generally U-shaped and is provided at its upper-side with an opening into which is threaded a pole piece 41. Adaptedfor reciprocating motion in the pole pieces 41 are p j the plungers 43. Plungers 43 extend through an opening in the magnets 39 into openings in the support members 36. Their downward travel, however, is limited by means ofthe screws 44 which may be locked in any desired position by means of the nuts .45.

' The solenoids may be wound on bobbins of bakelite or otherwise suitably insulated. These bobbins are secured tothe magnets 39' by means of the-screws 40, which also serve, as heretofore explained, to fasten'the magnets to the solenoid bracket 36. i

Mounted on the upper side of themagnets 39, as by the screws 46, is a bearing member 47 on which is pivotally mounted the release lever 48 by means of the bearing pinsi49. The release lever 48 includes a longitudinal angle portion. It is mounted by means of a pair of arms which extend integrally from the angle portion to the pins 49 andare pivoted or swingably mounted thereon. Approximately one-third of the distance from one end of the lever is a relatively rectangu lar web, which extends outwardly from the inner faces of the angle portion. This web is indicated by the numeral 52 and upon its upper edge rests the toggle h tch link The lower portion of the switch is' provided with a cover which may be secured to the base plate by means of the bolts 54. A suitable pipe or conduit means 55 may be fitted into the lower side of this cover to permit the entrance therethrough of the conductors 56 to the solenoids. This lower cover 53 is provided with a flange 55', on which the upper cover'56 is adapted to seat. The upper cover 56 may be secured to the flange 55 by means of screws 57. Cover 56 is provided with a pair of integral lugs 58 and 59. A similar lug 60, which is integral with the'handle 61, is adapted to co-operate with the inner faces of the lugs 58 and 59,

so as to limit the angular movement of the handle 61., The handle is secured to the shaft 29 by means of a pin 62. It is provided with an arm G3-whichis provided at ting of the switch.

,The device operates as follows: lVhen the solenoids are energized, the magnetic flux created thereby and acting on the plungers i3,'will cause. them to move upward, so that the pin 42 will force the release lever 48 to swing around the bearing member 47 The toggle latch 22, which'rests freely on the upper surface of the web52, will also be forced upward. Since the toggle, latch is pivotally connected tofthe toggle link 18, it will also form a toggle link to swing around its pivota-l'connection with the lever 15, thereby permitting the lip 21 to be released from the toggle latch 22. When this occurs. the spring which actuates the switch shaft throws the operating leverefor this shaftinto the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2. Likewise, the toggle link and the setting link thrown out of this straight line or 180? position into that shown by the dotted lines in the same figure. When the mechanism is tripped automatically, the lever 23. is not set in motion, it being held rotation by the latch 33, which engages with the protruding member ,25 thereon. The trip mechanism is reset manually by moving the hand lever 61 ina counter clockwise direction, so as to bring the lug GOagainst the face of they lug 58. In doing so, the latch is raised by the cam 27, thereby permitting the lever 23 to move into the dotted line position, shown in Fig. 2.; This permits the toggle link and the setting toggle to set backinto a straight line relation. Now, if the hand operatinglever 61 isturned in=a clockwise direction, it-will shift the levers 15 and 23 and thetoggle link and setting tbggle back into their original positions. as indicated by the solid lines in Figs. v1 and 2.

'In tripping the mechanism manually, the toggle link and the setting toggle do not get out of their straight line. or 180 relationship. A counter clockwise movement of thehand operating lever 61 will cause the cam-27 to lift, the latch 33 out of engagement with the protruding member 25, so that the lever 23fmay be pushed back, together with thelever 15 and the link mechanism connected between the leversl5 and 23 by the spring which actuates the operating shaft of the switch. It will be observed that in tripping the mechanism by hand, thatthe toggle link and-- the setting toggle do not get out of their straight line relationship, nor does the trip 21 of the setting toggle 2O become disengagedwith the opening provided for it in the toggle latch 22. "The toggle latch 22 is engaged simply with the surface of the integral member 52 of the release lever l8.

I do not intend tobe limited to the details shown or described. 2

I claim:

1. In combination, a switch operating shaft, means for turning said shaftin one direction, an operating lever mounted on said shaft, a manual operating lever and a shaft thereforeccentric to the switch operating shaft, link mechanism pivotally connected with the lever on said operating shaft and with said manual operating lever, a protruding member integral with said manual operating lever, means adapted to engage with said protruding member to hold said switch operating shaft against rotation by saidturning means, and means for disengaging said last named means from said'prd truding member so as to permit movement of said switch operating shaft. I

2. In combination. a switch operating shaft, anoperating lever mounted on said shaft. means tending. to turn said shaft in one direction, a manual operating shaft, a manual operating lever mounted on said manual operating shaft, link mechanism pivotally connecting said shaft operating lever with said manual operating lever, a cam member mounted on said manual operating shaft, protruding member integral with said'manual operating lever, means adapted to engage with said protruding member to prevent rotation of said shaft by said turning means, the means adapted to engage with saidprotruding member being also adapted to co-operate with the cam member on said manual operating shaft which is adapted to move said means out of engagement with said protruding member so asto permit retation of said switch operating shaft by said turning means by movement of said cam member. I 3.1n a device of the class described, in combination, a plate member, a supportintegral with said plate member, a manualopcrating shaft mounted in said support, a manual operating lever having anintcgral protruding member mounted on said shaft, a clutch member having a cam'member iotegral therewith mounted on said shaft and adapted for engagement with said manual operating lever, andmeans adapted to engage with said protruding member and to be brought out of engagement withsaid protruding member by said cam member when said shaft is turned.

:4. In a device of the class described, a plate member, support 11 ember integral with said plate member, a manual operating shaft mounted in said support member. a manual operating lever having an integral protruding portion mounted on said shaft,

a clutch member mounted on said shaft and member and having an end portion which is adapted to engage with one face of said protruding member, and an offset portion which is adapted to ride on said cam member. g

5. In con'lbination, a rocking shaft, means tending to rock said shaft, an operatii'iglever on said rocking shaft, a manually operated shaft, an operating lever mounted thereon, a cam member on said manually operated shaft, meansadapted to cooperate with said cam member for holding said shaft against movement, and link mechanism for interconnecting the levers on both of said shafts, said linkm'echanism serving to move both shafts through substantially the same proportional angular distance when sa1d holding means is released.

6. In combination, a rocking shaft, means tending to rock said shaft, an operating lever on said rocking shaft, a manually operated shaft, an operating lever mounted thereon, acam' member on said manually operated shaft, means adapted to cooperate with said cam member for holding said shaft against move- 7 ment, link mechanism interconnecting the levers on both of said shafts, and means for releasing said holding means to permit move-i ment of both of said shafts through substantially the same proportional angular distance by said link'mechanism. I 7. Incombination, a rocking shaft, means tending to rock said shaft,an operating level.- on said rockingshaft, a manually operated shaft an operating lever thereon, a pair of pivotallyfconnected links interconnecting said lever, said links having a straight line relationship when holding said rocking shaft, andautom atic means for breaking the straight line relationship of said links to permit turning of said rocking shaft by said rocking means. 8. In combination, a rocking shaft, means tending to rock said shaft in one direction, means including a pair of pivotally connected links for holding said rocking shaft against action by said first means when said links are in a straight line relationship, manually operated means for tripping out said holding means, and automatic. means for breaking the straight line relationship of said links.

.9. In combination, a rookably mounted switch operating shaft urged in switch opening direction, a lever secured on said shaft, a rockably mounted arm, a toggle connecting the arm and the lever, means normally holding said toggle fully extended in straight leasing and breaking the'toggle permitting movement of the lever in switch opening direction independently of the arm. I

10. In combination, a rockably mounted switch operated shaft urged in switch opening direction, a lever secured on said shaft, a rockably mounted arm, a'toggleconnecting the arm and the lever, means normally holding said toggle in straight line position and on dead centre, means holding the arm against turning movement in switch opening direction, means for manually releasing and resetting the arm, and means forreleasing and breaking the toggle. v

11. In'combination, 'a-rockably mounted switch operating shaft urged in'switch opening direction, a lever secured on said shaft, a rockably mounted arm having movement aboutan axis eccentric to the shaft, a toggle connecting the arm and the lever, means normally holding said toggle in straight line position and on dead centre, means holding the arm against turning movement in switch opening direction, and means for releasing e and breaking the toggle.

12. In combination, a rockably mounted switch operating shaft u'rged'in switch opening direction, allever secured on'said shaft,

a rockably mounted arm having a movement about an axis eccentric to the shaft, a toggle connecting the arm and the lever, a latch pivoted 'on one member of the toggle and movementin switch opening direction, the.

latch having a lower angularly disposed arm, a trip lever,-the latch arm normally resting upon the trip lever, and automatic means for projecting the trip lever toward the tog-i gle, tripping-the latch to release the toggle and breaking the toggle. I 13. In combination, a rockably mounted switchoperating shaft urged in switch opening direction, a lever secured on said shaft, a rockably mounted arm having movement about an 'aXis eccentric to the shaft, a toggle connecting the arm and the lever, a latch pivoted on one member of the toggle'a-nd having operative engagement with the other togglemember, said latch holding the toggle in straight line position and on dead centre, means holding the arm aga nst turning movement in switch opening direction, the

latch havingalowerangularly disposed arm,

a trip lever, thelatch arm normally resting upon the trip lever, automatic means for projecting the trip lever toward the toggle tripping the latch to release the toggle and breaking the toggle, and means for releasing and resetting the arm, the toggle being extended by release of the arm and the latch moving into operative position upon extenslon of the toggle.

14. In combination, a roclrably mounted switch operating shaft urged in switch opening direction, a lever secured on said shatt, a rockably mounted arm disposed eccentric to the shaft, a toggle connecting the arm and the lever, means normally holding said toggle fully extended in straight line position and on dead centre, means holding the arm against turning movement in switch opening direction, and means for releasing ALFRED F. C. LOTZ. 

